As updates on the impact of the coronavirus continue to be released, we want to take a moment to inform you of the heightened preventative measures we have put in place at Delta Specialty Hospital to keep our patients, their families, and our employees safe. All efforts are guided by and in adherence to the recommendations distributed by the CDC.

Please note that for the safety of our patients, their families, and our staff, on-site visitation is no longer allowed at Delta Specialty Hospital.

This restriction has been implemented in compliance with updated corporate and state regulations to further reduce the risks associated with COVID-19.

We are offering visitation through telehealth services so that our patients can remain connected to their loved ones.

Alternate methods of communication for other services are being vetted and may be offered when deemed clinically appropriate.

For specific information regarding these changes and limitations, please contact us directly.

CDC updates are consistently monitored to ensure that all guidance followed is based on the latest information released.

All staff has received infection prevention and control training.

Thorough disinfection and hygiene guidance has been provided.

Patient care supplies such as masks and hand sanitizer are being monitored and utilized.

Temperature and symptom screening protocols are in place for all patients and staff.

Social distancing strategies have been implemented to ensure that patients and staff maintain proper distance from one another at all times.

Learn about trauma

If you have been through a traumatic experience, you may be struggling with upsetting emotions, a constant sense of being in danger, or terrifying memories. When bad things happen to an individual, it may take some time for them to overcome the emotional pain and start to feel safe once again. Psychological and emotional trauma is what people experience right after a particularly traumatic event has occurred. These disturbing events can happen once or can be repeated events that completely overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope with the resulting emotions. For some, the feelings caused by a traumatic event appear right away, for others it can take weeks or even years before they begin to experience these emotions. The time it takes for an emotional reaction to a traumatic event depends on the event experienced and the individual themselves.

These stressful events destroy an individual’s ability to feel secure, leaving them feeling helpless and vulnerable. Most often, traumatic experiences involve a threat to a person’s life or safety, but any event that leaves someone feeling alone and overwhelmed can be considered traumatic. It isn’t the actual facts that determine if an event is traumatic; it is a person’s subjective emotional experience of the event. The more threatened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized.

The most typical responses immediately after a traumatic event are shock and denial. Shock is the rapid and intense disturbance of normal emotional states that leaves an individual feeling confused. Denial occurs when an individual does not acknowledge that the event occurred. Once the initial symptoms of shock and denial diminish, additional reactions will vary among individuals. Not all traumatic events cause lasting emotional and psychological damage for everyone. Some people are able to rebound quickly from severely devastating events, while others experience lasting devastation from the same event.

Psychological trauma can lead to serious long-term consequences. It is important that individuals who are suffering from severe traumatic reactions do not blame themselves for their reactions. Instead, they must realize that this is a perfectly normal reaction to such a horrible event. It is not clear why some individuals react so strongly to certain events, but it is very common for trauma victims to blame themselves.

Types

Types of Psychological Trauma

Trauma can be caused by a variety of events. Typical causes for the development of psychological trauma may include the following:

Falls

Exposure to violence

Sexual assault/rape

Sexual abuse

Sports injuries

Extreme poverty

Kidnapping

Sudden death of a loved one

Adult children of alcoholics

Vehicle accidents

Harassment

Domestic abuse

Natural disasters – earthquakes, deadly tornadoes, volcanoes

Police brutality

War or combat injuries

Co-occurring Disorders

Trauma and co-occurring disorders

Many individuals who have experienced intense trauma may develop serious co-occurring disorders at some point before or following the traumatic event. These types of co-occurring disorders may include:

Anxiety disorders

Alcoholism

Substance abuse disorders

Depressive disorders

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors of trauma

There is no set way in which individuals should react to the stress associated with a traumatic event. Everyone reacts to traumatic experiences differently. Factors affecting an individual’s recovery from a traumatic event include the following:

Event was completely unexpected

Unprepared for the event

The severity of the traumatic event

Repeated trauma

The overall ability for an individual to cope with stressful emotional situations

The event was unnecessarily cruel

The trauma occurred in childhood

Amount of loss sustained

Stressful events which may have preceded the traumatic experience

There are a number of risk factors increasing the likelihood an individual will suffer from traumatic stress following an event. These include:

Heavy stresses

Recent losses

Feeling unstable and unsafe in the environment

Have been traumatized before

Serious illness

Abuse – sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional

Domestic violence

Intrusive medical procedures

Bullying

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of trauma

Many individuals who undergo very traumatic events find themselves facing many different troubling symptoms. The severity of these symptoms depends upon the person, the type of traumatic event experienced, and the emotional support received after the event. Symptoms can be varied and differ from person to person, and are not always experienced in the same way by all individuals. There is no right or wrong way to respond to trauma, your responses are normal reactions to abnormal events. Common symptoms of trauma include:

Mood symptoms:

Depression

Anxiety

Shock

Anger

Irritability

Mood swings

Despair

Mood swings

Guilt

Shame

Self-blame

Sadness

Panic attacks

Anger

Irritability

Hopelessness

Behavioral symptoms:

Frequent nightmares

Insomnia

Startled easily

Fatigue

Edginess

Self-medication with drugs and alcohol

Self-harming behaviors

Difficulty concentrating

Social isolation

Avoiding certain events that may trigger memories

Avoiding certain people

Physical symptoms:

Insomnia

Racing heartbeat

Muscle tension

Easily startled

Aches and pains

Exhaustion

Nightmares

Edginess

Agitation

Fatigue

Muscle tension

Dry mouth

Tachycardia

Headaches

Nausea and vomiting

Psychological symptoms:

Confusion

Difficulty concentrating

Insecurities

Repressed memories

Dissociation

Emotional numbing

Constant fear

Denial and disbelief

Flashbacks – the individual may re-experience traumatic events over and over

Emotional detachment

Low self-esteem

Effects

Effects of trauma

Recovery from a traumatic event takes time and everyone heals at their own pace, however if the symptoms are still present after a few months have passed, it is time to seek treatment. If left untreated, traumatic reactions will only get worse over time, possibly leading to even more severe symptoms. Trauma needs to be treated sooner, rather than later, before the effects of the event become so severe that an individual is no longer able to function on a daily basis. These effects may include: